THE ENEMY RETREATS
As the Summer advanced visitors flocked to Polktown. From the larger
and better known tourist resorts on the New York side of the lake,
small parties had ventured into Polktown during the two previous
seasons. Now news of the out-of-the-way, old-fashioned hamlet had
spread; and by the end of July the Lake View Inn was comfortably
filled, and most people who were willing to take "city folks" to board
had all the visitors they could take care of.
"But I dunno's we're goin' to make much by havin' sech a crowd," Lem
Parraday complained. "With Marm sick nothin' seems ter go right. Sech
waste in the kitchen I never did see! An' if I say a word, or look
skew-jawed at them women, they threaten ter up an' leave me in a bunch."
For Marm Parraday, by Dr. Poole's orders, had been taken out into the
country to her sister's, and told to stay there till cool weather came.
"If you are bound to run a rum-hole, Lem," said the plain-spoken
doctor, "don't expect a woman in her condition to help you run it."
Lem thought it hard--and he looked for sympathy among his neighbors.
He got what he was looking for, but of rather doubtful quality.
"I cartainly do wish Marm'd git well--or sumpin'," he said one day in
Walky Dexter's hearing. "I don't see how a man's expected to run a
_ho_-tel without a woman to help him. It beats me!"
"It'll be _sumpin'_ that happens ter ye, I reckon," observed Walky,
drily. "Sure as yeou air a fut high, Lem. In the Fall. Beware the
Ides o' September, as the feller says. Only mebbe I ain't got jest the
month right. Haw! haw! haw!"
Town Meeting Day was in September. The call had already been issued,
and included in it was the amendment calling for no license in
Polktown--the new ordinance, if passed, to take immediate effect.
The campaign for prohibition was continued despite the influx of Summer
visitors. Indeed, because of them the battle against liquor selling
grew hotter. Not so many "city folks" as the hotel-keeper and his
friends expected, desired to see a bar in the old-fashioned community.
Especially after the first pay day of the gang working on the branch of
the V. C. Road. When the night was made hideous and the main street of
Polktown dangerous for quiet people, by drink-inflamed fellows from the
railroad construction camp, a strong protest was addressed to the Town
Selectmen.
There was a possibility of several well-to-do men building on the
heights above the town, another season. Uncle Jason had a chance to
sell his sheep-lot at such a price that his cupidity was fully aroused.
But the buyer did not care to close the bargain if the town went "wet"
in the Fall. Naturally Mr. Day's interest in prohibition increased
mightily.
The visiting young people would have liked to hold dances in Lem
Parraday's big room at the Inn. But gently bred girls did not care to
go where liquor was sold; so the dancing parties of the better class
were held in the Odd Fellows Hall.
The recurrent temperance meetings which had at first been held in the
Town House had to seek other quarters early in the campaign. Mr. Cross
Moore "lifted his finger" and the councilmen voted to allow the Town
Hall to be used for no such purpose.
However, warm weather having come, in a week the Campaign Committee
obtained a big tent, set it up on the old circus grounds behind Major
Price's place, somewhat curtailing the boys' baseball field, and the
temperance meetings were held not only once a week, but thrice weekly.
The tent meetings became vastly popular. When Nelson Haley, urged by
the elder, made his first speech in the campaign, Polktown awoke as
never before to the fact that their schoolmaster had a gift of oratory
not previously suspected.
And, perhaps as much as anything, that speech raised public opinion to
a height which could be no longer ignored by the School Committee.
There was an unveiled demand in the Polktown column of the Middletown
Courier that Nelson Haley should be appointed teacher of the graded
school for the ensuing year.
Even Mr. Cross Moore saw that the time had come for him and his
comrades on the committee to back down completely from their position.
It was the only thing that would save them from being voted out of
office at the coming election--and perhaps that would happen anyway!
Before the Summer was over the request, signed by the five
committeemen, came to Nelson that he take up his duties from which he
had asked to be relieved in the Spring.
"It's a victory!" cried Janice, happily. "Oh, Nelson! I'm _so_ glad."
But there was an exceedingly bitter taste on Nelson Haley's lips. He
shook his head and could not smile. The accusation against his
character still stood. He had been accused of stealing the collection
of coins, and he had never been able to disprove the charge.